δεδορκότ᾽ ἐχθροῖς ἄστρον ὣς λάμψειν ἔτι.
Electra. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
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Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
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Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 121-250 focus
Χορός
ὦ παῖ, παῖ δυστανοτάτας
Ἠλέκτρα ματρός, τίνʼ ἀεὶ
τάκεις ὧδʼ ἀκόρεστον οἰμωγὰν
τὸν πάλαι ἐκ δολερᾶς ἀθεώτατα
ματρὸς ἁλόντʼ ἀπάταις Ἀγαμέμνονα
125
κακᾷ τε χειρὶ πρόδοτον; ὡς ὁ τάδε πορὼν
ὄλοιτʼ, εἴ μοι θέμις τάδʼ αὐδᾶν.
ὦ παῖ, παῖ δυστανοτάτας
Ἠλέκτρα ματρός, τίνʼ ἀεὶ
τάκεις ὧδʼ ἀκόρεστον οἰμωγὰν
τὸν πάλαι ἐκ δολερᾶς ἀθεώτατα
ματρὸς ἁλόντʼ ἀπάταις Ἀγαμέμνονα
125
κακᾷ τε χειρὶ πρόδοτον; ὡς ὁ τάδε πορὼν
ὄλοιτʼ, εἴ μοι θέμις τάδʼ αὐδᾶν.
Ἠλέκτρα
ὦ γενέθλα γενναίων,
ἥκετʼ ἐμῶν καμάτων παραμύθιον.
130
οἶδά τε καὶ ξυνίημι τάδʼ, οὔ τί με
φυγγάνει, οὐδʼ ἐθέλω προλιπεῖν τόδε,
μὴ οὐ τὸν ἐμὸν στενάχειν πατέρʼ ἄθλιον.
ἀλλʼ ὦ παντοίας φιλότητος ἀμειβόμεναι χάριν,
ἐᾶτέ μʼ ὧδʼ ἀλύειν,
135
αἰαῖ, ἱκνοῦμαι.
ὦ γενέθλα γενναίων,
ἥκετʼ ἐμῶν καμάτων παραμύθιον.
130
οἶδά τε καὶ ξυνίημι τάδʼ, οὔ τί με
φυγγάνει, οὐδʼ ἐθέλω προλιπεῖν τόδε,
μὴ οὐ τὸν ἐμὸν στενάχειν πατέρʼ ἄθλιον.
ἀλλʼ ὦ παντοίας φιλότητος ἀμειβόμεναι χάριν,
ἐᾶτέ μʼ ὧδʼ ἀλύειν,
135
αἰαῖ, ἱκνοῦμαι.
Χορός
ἀλλʼ οὔτοι τόν γʼ ἐξ Ἀΐδα
παγκοίνου λίμνας πατέρʼ ἀν-
στάσεις οὔτε γόοισιν οὔτʼ εὐχαῖς.
ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν μετρίων ἐπʼ ἀμήχανον
140
ἄλγος ἀεὶ στενάχουσα διόλλυσαι,
ἐν οἷς ἀνάλυσίς ἐστιν οὐδεμία κακῶν.
τί μοι τῶν δυσφόρων ἐφίει;
ἀλλʼ οὔτοι τόν γʼ ἐξ Ἀΐδα
παγκοίνου λίμνας πατέρʼ ἀν-
στάσεις οὔτε γόοισιν οὔτʼ εὐχαῖς.
ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν μετρίων ἐπʼ ἀμήχανον
140
ἄλγος ἀεὶ στενάχουσα διόλλυσαι,
ἐν οἷς ἀνάλυσίς ἐστιν οὐδεμία κακῶν.
τί μοι τῶν δυσφόρων ἐφίει;
Ἠλέκτρα
νήπιος ὃς τῶν οἰκτρῶς
οἰχομένων γονέων ἐπιλάθεται.
145
ἀλλʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἁ στονόεσσʼ ἄραρεν φρένας,
ἃ Ἴτυν, αἰὲν Ἴτυν ὀλοφύρεται,
ὄρνις ἀτυζομένα, Διὸς ἄγγελος.
ἰὼ παντλάμων Νιόβα, σὲ δʼ ἔγωγε νέμω θεόν,
150
ἅτʼ ἐν τάφῳ πετραίῳ
αἰεὶ δακρύεις.
νήπιος ὃς τῶν οἰκτρῶς
οἰχομένων γονέων ἐπιλάθεται.
145
ἀλλʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἁ στονόεσσʼ ἄραρεν φρένας,
ἃ Ἴτυν, αἰὲν Ἴτυν ὀλοφύρεται,
ὄρνις ἀτυζομένα, Διὸς ἄγγελος.
ἰὼ παντλάμων Νιόβα, σὲ δʼ ἔγωγε νέμω θεόν,
150
ἅτʼ ἐν τάφῳ πετραίῳ
αἰεὶ δακρύεις.
Χορός
οὔτοι σοὶ μούνᾳ, τέκνον,
ἄχος ἐφάνη βροτῶν,
155
πρὸς ὅ τι σὺ τῶν ἔνδον εἶ περισσά,
οἷς ὁμόθεν εἶ καὶ γονᾷ ξύναιμος,
οἵα Χρυσόθεμις ζώει καὶ Ἰφιάνασσα,
κρυπτᾷ τʼ ἀχέων ἐν ἥβᾳ,
ὄλβιος, ὃν ἁ κλεινὰ
160
γᾶ ποτε Μυκηναίων
δέξεται εὐπατρίδαν, Διὸς εὔφρονι
βήματι μολόντα τάνδε γᾶν Ὀρέσταν.
οὔτοι σοὶ μούνᾳ, τέκνον,
ἄχος ἐφάνη βροτῶν,
155
πρὸς ὅ τι σὺ τῶν ἔνδον εἶ περισσά,
οἷς ὁμόθεν εἶ καὶ γονᾷ ξύναιμος,
οἵα Χρυσόθεμις ζώει καὶ Ἰφιάνασσα,
κρυπτᾷ τʼ ἀχέων ἐν ἥβᾳ,
ὄλβιος, ὃν ἁ κλεινὰ
160
γᾶ ποτε Μυκηναίων
δέξεται εὐπατρίδαν, Διὸς εὔφρονι
βήματι μολόντα τάνδε γᾶν Ὀρέσταν.
Ἠλέκτρα
ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ἀκάματα προσμένουσʼ, ἄτεκνος,
τάλαινʼ, ἀνύμφευτος αἰὲν οἰχνῶ,
165
δάκρυσι μυδαλέα, τὸν ἀνήνυτον
οἶτον ἔχουσα κακῶν· ὁ δὲ λάθεται
ὧν τʼ ἔπαθʼ ὧν τʼ ἐδάη. τί γὰρ οὐκ ἐμοὶ
ἔρχεται ἀγγελίας ἀπατώμενον;
170
ἀεὶ μὲν γὰρ ποθεῖ,
ποθῶν δʼ οὐκ ἀξιοῖ φανῆναι.
ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ἀκάματα προσμένουσʼ, ἄτεκνος,
τάλαινʼ, ἀνύμφευτος αἰὲν οἰχνῶ,
165
δάκρυσι μυδαλέα, τὸν ἀνήνυτον
οἶτον ἔχουσα κακῶν· ὁ δὲ λάθεται
ὧν τʼ ἔπαθʼ ὧν τʼ ἐδάη. τί γὰρ οὐκ ἐμοὶ
ἔρχεται ἀγγελίας ἀπατώμενον;
170
ἀεὶ μὲν γὰρ ποθεῖ,
ποθῶν δʼ οὐκ ἀξιοῖ φανῆναι.
Χορός
θάρσει μοι, θάρσει, τέκνον.
ἔτι μέγας οὐρανῷ
175
Ζεύς, ὃς ἐφορᾷ πάντα καὶ κρατύνει·
ᾧ τὸν ὑπεραλγῆ χόλον νέμουσα
μήθʼ οἷς ἐχθαίρεις ὑπεράχθεο μήτʼ ἐπιλάθου·
χρόνος γὰρ εὐμαρὴς θεός.
οὔτε γὰρ ὁ τὰν Κρῖσαν
180
βούνομον ἔχων ἀκτὰν
παῖς Ἀγαμεμνονίδας ἀπερίτροπος
οὔθʼ ὁ παρὰ τὸν Ἀχέροντα θεὸς ἀνάσσων.
θάρσει μοι, θάρσει, τέκνον.
ἔτι μέγας οὐρανῷ
175
Ζεύς, ὃς ἐφορᾷ πάντα καὶ κρατύνει·
ᾧ τὸν ὑπεραλγῆ χόλον νέμουσα
μήθʼ οἷς ἐχθαίρεις ὑπεράχθεο μήτʼ ἐπιλάθου·
χρόνος γὰρ εὐμαρὴς θεός.
οὔτε γὰρ ὁ τὰν Κρῖσαν
180
βούνομον ἔχων ἀκτὰν
παῖς Ἀγαμεμνονίδας ἀπερίτροπος
οὔθʼ ὁ παρὰ τὸν Ἀχέροντα θεὸς ἀνάσσων.
Ἠλέκτρα
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν ὁ πολὺς ἀπολέλοιπεν ἤδη
185
βίοτος ἀνέλπιστος, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀρκῶ·
ἅτις ἄνευ τεκέων κατατάκομαι,
ἇς φίλος οὔτις ἀνὴρ ὑπερίσταται,
ἀλλʼ ἁπερεί τις ἔποικος ἀναξία
οἰκονομῶ θαλάμους πατρός, ὧδε μὲν
190
ἀεικεῖ σὺν στολᾷ,
κεναῖς δʼ ἀμφίσταμαι τραπέζαις.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν ὁ πολὺς ἀπολέλοιπεν ἤδη
185
βίοτος ἀνέλπιστος, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀρκῶ·
ἅτις ἄνευ τεκέων κατατάκομαι,
ἇς φίλος οὔτις ἀνὴρ ὑπερίσταται,
ἀλλʼ ἁπερεί τις ἔποικος ἀναξία
οἰκονομῶ θαλάμους πατρός, ὧδε μὲν
190
ἀεικεῖ σὺν στολᾷ,
κεναῖς δʼ ἀμφίσταμαι τραπέζαις.
Χορός
οἰκτρὰ μὲν νόστοις αὐδά,
οἰκτρὰ δʼ ἐν κοίταις πατρῴαις
ὅτε οἱ παγχάλκων ἀνταία
195
γενύων ὡρμάθη πλαγά.
δόλος ἦν ὁ φράσας, ἔρος ὁ κτείνας,
δεινὰν δεινῶς προφυτεύσαντες
μορφάν, εἴτʼ οὖν θεὸς εἴτε βροτῶν
ἦν ὁ ταῦτα πράσσων.
200
οἰκτρὰ μὲν νόστοις αὐδά,
οἰκτρὰ δʼ ἐν κοίταις πατρῴαις
ὅτε οἱ παγχάλκων ἀνταία
195
γενύων ὡρμάθη πλαγά.
δόλος ἦν ὁ φράσας, ἔρος ὁ κτείνας,
δεινὰν δεινῶς προφυτεύσαντες
μορφάν, εἴτʼ οὖν θεὸς εἴτε βροτῶν
ἦν ὁ ταῦτα πράσσων.
200
Ἠλέκτρα
ὦ πασᾶν κείνα πλέον ἁμέρα
ἐλθοῦσʼ ἐχθίστα δή μοι·
ὦ νύξ, ὦ δείπνων ἀρρήτων
ἔκπαγλʼ ἄχθη,
τοὺς ἐμὸς ἴδε πατὴρ
205
θανάτους αἰκεῖς διδύμαιν χειροῖν,
αἳ τὸν ἐμὸν εἷλον βίον πρόδοτον, αἵ μʼ ἀπώλεσαν·
οἷς θεὸς ὁ μέγας Ὀλύμπιος
ποίνιμα πάθεα παθεῖν πόροι,
210
μηδέ ποτʼ ἀγλαΐας ἀποναίατο
τοιάδʼ ἀνύσαντες ἔργα.
ὦ πασᾶν κείνα πλέον ἁμέρα
ἐλθοῦσʼ ἐχθίστα δή μοι·
ὦ νύξ, ὦ δείπνων ἀρρήτων
ἔκπαγλʼ ἄχθη,
τοὺς ἐμὸς ἴδε πατὴρ
205
θανάτους αἰκεῖς διδύμαιν χειροῖν,
αἳ τὸν ἐμὸν εἷλον βίον πρόδοτον, αἵ μʼ ἀπώλεσαν·
οἷς θεὸς ὁ μέγας Ὀλύμπιος
ποίνιμα πάθεα παθεῖν πόροι,
210
μηδέ ποτʼ ἀγλαΐας ἀποναίατο
τοιάδʼ ἀνύσαντες ἔργα.
Χορός
φράζου μὴ πόρσω φωνεῖν.
οὐ γνώμαν ἴσχεις ἐξ οἵων
τὰ παρόντʼ οἰκείας εἰς ἄτας
215
ἐμπίπτεις οὕτως αἰκῶς;
πολὺ γάρ τι κακῶν ὑπερεκτήσω,
σᾷ δυσθύμῳ τίκτουσʼ ἀεὶ
ψυχᾷ πολέμους· τὰ δὲ τοῖς δυνατοῖς
οὐκ ἐριστὰ πλάθειν.
220
φράζου μὴ πόρσω φωνεῖν.
οὐ γνώμαν ἴσχεις ἐξ οἵων
τὰ παρόντʼ οἰκείας εἰς ἄτας
215
ἐμπίπτεις οὕτως αἰκῶς;
πολὺ γάρ τι κακῶν ὑπερεκτήσω,
σᾷ δυσθύμῳ τίκτουσʼ ἀεὶ
ψυχᾷ πολέμους· τὰ δὲ τοῖς δυνατοῖς
οὐκ ἐριστὰ πλάθειν.
220
Ἠλέκτρα
δεινοῖς ἠναγκάσθην, δεινοῖς·
ἔξοιδʼ, οὐ λάθει μʼ ὀργά.
ἀλλʼ ἐν γὰρ δεινοῖς οὐ σχήσω
ταύτας ἄτας,
ὄφρα με βίος ἔχῃ.
225
τίνι γάρ ποτʼ ἄν, ὦ φιλία γενέθλα,
πρόσφορον ἀκούσαιμʼ ἔπος, τίνι φρονοῦντι καίρια;
ἄνετέ μʼ ἄνετε, παράγοροι·
τάδε γὰρ ἄλυτα κεκλήσεται,
οὐδέ ποτʼ ἐκ καμάτων ἀποπαύσομαι
230
ἀνάριθμος ὧδε θρήνων.
δεινοῖς ἠναγκάσθην, δεινοῖς·
ἔξοιδʼ, οὐ λάθει μʼ ὀργά.
ἀλλʼ ἐν γὰρ δεινοῖς οὐ σχήσω
ταύτας ἄτας,
ὄφρα με βίος ἔχῃ.
225
τίνι γάρ ποτʼ ἄν, ὦ φιλία γενέθλα,
πρόσφορον ἀκούσαιμʼ ἔπος, τίνι φρονοῦντι καίρια;
ἄνετέ μʼ ἄνετε, παράγοροι·
τάδε γὰρ ἄλυτα κεκλήσεται,
οὐδέ ποτʼ ἐκ καμάτων ἀποπαύσομαι
230
ἀνάριθμος ὧδε θρήνων.
Χορός
ἀλλʼ οὖν εὐνοίᾳ γʼ αὐδῶ,
μάτηρ ὡσεί τις πιστά,
μὴ τίκτειν σʼ ἄταν ἄταις.
235
ἀλλʼ οὖν εὐνοίᾳ γʼ αὐδῶ,
μάτηρ ὡσεί τις πιστά,
μὴ τίκτειν σʼ ἄταν ἄταις.
235
Ἠλέκτρα
καὶ τί μέτρον κακότατος ἔφυ; φέρε,
πῶς ἐπὶ τοῖς φθιμένοις ἀμελεῖν καλόν;
ἐν τίνι τοῦτʼ ἔβλαστʼ ἀνθρώπων;
μήτʼ εἴην ἔντιμος τούτοις
μήτʼ, εἴ τῳ πρόσκειμαι χρηστῷ,
240
ξυνναίοιμʼ εὔκηλος, γονέων
ἐκτίμους ἴσχουσα πτέρυγας
ὀξυτόνων γόων.
εἰ γὰρ ὁ μὲν θανὼν γᾶ τε καὶ οὐδὲν ὢν
245
κείσεται τάλας,
οἱ δὲ μὴ πάλιν
δώσουσʼ ἀντιφόνους δίκας,
ἔρροι τʼ ἂν αἰδὼς
ἁπάντων τʼ εὐσέβεια θνατῶν.
250
καὶ τί μέτρον κακότατος ἔφυ; φέρε,
πῶς ἐπὶ τοῖς φθιμένοις ἀμελεῖν καλόν;
ἐν τίνι τοῦτʼ ἔβλαστʼ ἀνθρώπων;
μήτʼ εἴην ἔντιμος τούτοις
μήτʼ, εἴ τῳ πρόσκειμαι χρηστῷ,
240
ξυνναίοιμʼ εὔκηλος, γονέων
ἐκτίμους ἴσχουσα πτέρυγας
ὀξυτόνων γόων.
εἰ γὰρ ὁ μὲν θανὼν γᾶ τε καὶ οὐδὲν ὢν
245
κείσεται τάλας,
οἱ δὲ μὴ πάλιν
δώσουσʼ ἀντιφόνους δίκας,
ἔρροι τʼ ἂν αἰδὼς
ἁπάντων τʼ εὐσέβεια θνατῶν.
250
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 67 focus
EL
Gods of my father, O be with me now!
Gods of my father, O be with me now!
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 77 focus
weh, weh mir!
(im Hause)
weh, weh mir!
Der Pfleger.
Horch! Innerhalb des Hauses wähnt' ich jammernde
Wehklagen einer Dienerin zu hören, Kind.
Horch! Innerhalb des Hauses wähnt' ich jammernde
Wehklagen einer Dienerin zu hören, Kind.
Orestes.
War's nicht Elektra? Meinst du nicht, wir sollten noch
80
Verweilen hier und lauschen ihrem Klageruf?
War's nicht Elektra? Meinst du nicht, wir sollten noch
80
Verweilen hier und lauschen ihrem Klageruf?
Der Pfleger.
Mit nichten. Nichts geschehe, bis wir Loxias'
1
Gebot erfüllten und zuerst dem Vater dort
Sein Todtenopfer brachten; denn das sichert uns
Den Sieg, verleiht uns hohe Kraft zur schweren That.
85
Mit nichten. Nichts geschehe, bis wir Loxias'
1
Gebot erfüllten und zuerst dem Vater dort
Sein Todtenopfer brachten; denn das sichert uns
Den Sieg, verleiht uns hohe Kraft zur schweren That.
85
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 67 focus
Chrysothemis
464cont2
And so I will.
"Where reason dictates, strife should never come ;
But quick, despatch ! fulfil her just commands.
Yet, O my friends I remember, our attempt
Is full of danger, and let nought escape
That may betray me to my cruel mother ;
For if it reach her ear, this daring act,
I fear me much, shall one day cost us dear.
Or my prophetic mind is now no more
Attentive as of old to wisdom's lore,
Or justice comes, with speedy vengeance fraught ;
Behold ! the goddess armed with power appears-
It must be so, by Clytemnestra's fears.
And the dire dream that on her fancy wrought :
Thy father, not unmindful of his fate.
Shall hither come his wrongs to vindicate ;
And, in his gore imbrued.
The fatal axe with him shall rise,
Shall ask another sacrifice,
And drink with him the cruel tyrant's blood.
Lo ! with unnumbered hands and countless feet,
The fury comes her destined prey to meet ;
Deep in the covert hid she glides unseen,
Hangs o'er the trembUng murderer's head,
Or steals to the adultrous bed,
An awful witness of the guilty scene ;
ELKCTRA.
Doubtless the dream with all its terrors meant
For crimes like these Bome dreadful punishment,
470
I f mortals aught from nightly visions know,
470
If truth from great Apollo's shrine
470
Appears in oracles divine,
470
1 *resagiug bliss to come, or threat'ning future woe.
470
J""'
470
C) Pelops ; to thy countiy and to thco
470
The fatal course brought woe and misery ;
For since the time v/hen, from his chariot thi'own,
For thee the guilty wreath to gain,
The hapless Myrtihis was slain,
Nought has thy wretched race but grief and sorrow
known.
And so I will.
"Where reason dictates, strife should never come ;
But quick, despatch ! fulfil her just commands.
Yet, O my friends I remember, our attempt
Is full of danger, and let nought escape
That may betray me to my cruel mother ;
For if it reach her ear, this daring act,
I fear me much, shall one day cost us dear.
Or my prophetic mind is now no more
Attentive as of old to wisdom's lore,
Or justice comes, with speedy vengeance fraught ;
Behold ! the goddess armed with power appears-
It must be so, by Clytemnestra's fears.
And the dire dream that on her fancy wrought :
Thy father, not unmindful of his fate.
Shall hither come his wrongs to vindicate ;
And, in his gore imbrued.
The fatal axe with him shall rise,
Shall ask another sacrifice,
And drink with him the cruel tyrant's blood.
Lo ! with unnumbered hands and countless feet,
The fury comes her destined prey to meet ;
Deep in the covert hid she glides unseen,
Hangs o'er the trembUng murderer's head,
Or steals to the adultrous bed,
An awful witness of the guilty scene ;
ELKCTRA.
Doubtless the dream with all its terrors meant
For crimes like these Bome dreadful punishment,
470
I f mortals aught from nightly visions know,
470
If truth from great Apollo's shrine
470
Appears in oracles divine,
470
1 *resagiug bliss to come, or threat'ning future woe.
470
J""'
470
C) Pelops ; to thy countiy and to thco
470
The fatal course brought woe and misery ;
For since the time v/hen, from his chariot thi'own,
For thee the guilty wreath to gain,
The hapless Myrtihis was slain,
Nought has thy wretched race but grief and sorrow
known.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 67 focus
Theseus
STRO:
ANTIS.
472
amidst you well the secret guard;
For should my mother know it, much I fear
I should have cause the daring deed to mourn.
If wisdom with one prescient ray
Illumes the darkness of my soul,
The vengeful Fury speeds her way;
Before her, baleful omens scowl;
I hear the flaping of their wings;
The force of justice in her hands she brings.
The dreadful visions of the night I hear:
They breathe sweet music to my ear;
My courage kindles at thinspiring sound.
Thy father rouses in the realms below;"
Ne'er will the king of Greece forget his wound,
Ne'er the old Axe of brass, that struck th' insidious blow..
She comes, with all her hundred hands,
Her hundred feet, the furious pow'r,
No more in dreadful ambush stands;
She comes, she knows her torturing hour;
With feet of brass I hear her tread;
She marks th' unholy, blood-polluted bed:
Vengeful 'gainst those th' accursed attempt who dared,
And those the horrid deed who shared,
She sends these boding signs, nor sends in vain.
If aught of truth terrific dreams disclose,
If aught the oracle's prophetic strain,
This vision of the night our happier state foreshows.
How black with miseries to this land,
O Pelops, was thy fatal course,
When jealous Pisa's dangerous strand...
Saw thy swift car's victorious force!
For since by rage, untaught to spare,
The hapless Myrtilus was slain,
Hurl'd headlong from the golden car,
And plunged into the roaring main,
Strife in this house delights to dwell,
And Murder shrieks with hideous yell.
amidst you well the secret guard;
For should my mother know it, much I fear
I should have cause the daring deed to mourn.
If wisdom with one prescient ray
Illumes the darkness of my soul,
The vengeful Fury speeds her way;
Before her, baleful omens scowl;
I hear the flaping of their wings;
The force of justice in her hands she brings.
The dreadful visions of the night I hear:
They breathe sweet music to my ear;
My courage kindles at thinspiring sound.
Thy father rouses in the realms below;"
Ne'er will the king of Greece forget his wound,
Ne'er the old Axe of brass, that struck th' insidious blow..
She comes, with all her hundred hands,
Her hundred feet, the furious pow'r,
No more in dreadful ambush stands;
She comes, she knows her torturing hour;
With feet of brass I hear her tread;
She marks th' unholy, blood-polluted bed:
Vengeful 'gainst those th' accursed attempt who dared,
And those the horrid deed who shared,
She sends these boding signs, nor sends in vain.
If aught of truth terrific dreams disclose,
If aught the oracle's prophetic strain,
This vision of the night our happier state foreshows.
How black with miseries to this land,
O Pelops, was thy fatal course,
When jealous Pisa's dangerous strand...
Saw thy swift car's victorious force!
For since by rage, untaught to spare,
The hapless Myrtilus was slain,
Hurl'd headlong from the golden car,
And plunged into the roaring main,
Strife in this house delights to dwell,
And Murder shrieks with hideous yell.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 121-250 focus
Chorus
Ah, Electra, child of a most wretched mother, why are you always wasting away in this unsated mourning for Agamemnon, who long ago was godlessly
ensnared in your false mother’s wiles and betrayed by her corrupt hand? May the one who did that perish, if I may speak such a curse without breaking the gods’ laws.
125
Ah, Electra, child of a most wretched mother, why are you always wasting away in this unsated mourning for Agamemnon, who long ago was godlessly
ensnared in your false mother’s wiles and betrayed by her corrupt hand? May the one who did that perish, if I may speak such a curse without breaking the gods’ laws.
125
Electra
Ah, noble-hearted girls,
you have come to relieve me in my troubles. I know and feel it: it does not escape me. Still I cannot leave this task undone, nor abandon this mourning for my poor father. Ah, friends whose love responds to mine in every mood,
130
allow me to rave as I am, oh, please, I beg you!
135
Ah, noble-hearted girls,
you have come to relieve me in my troubles. I know and feel it: it does not escape me. Still I cannot leave this task undone, nor abandon this mourning for my poor father. Ah, friends whose love responds to mine in every mood,
130
allow me to rave as I am, oh, please, I beg you!
135
Chorus
But never by weeping nor by prayer will you resurrect your father from the pool of Hades which receives all men.
No, by grieving without end and beyond due limits you will find cureless misery and your own ruin; in these actions there is no deliverance from evils. Tell us, why do you pursue such suffering?
140
But never by weeping nor by prayer will you resurrect your father from the pool of Hades which receives all men.
No, by grieving without end and beyond due limits you will find cureless misery and your own ruin; in these actions there is no deliverance from evils. Tell us, why do you pursue such suffering?
140
Electra
Foolish is the child who forgets a parent’s piteous death. No, closer to my heart is the mourner who eternally wails,
Itys, Itys, that bird mad with grief, the messenger of Zeus.
145
Ah, all-suffering Niobe, you I count divine, since you weep forever in your rocky tomb!
150
Foolish is the child who forgets a parent’s piteous death. No, closer to my heart is the mourner who eternally wails,
Itys, Itys, that bird mad with grief, the messenger of Zeus.
145
Ah, all-suffering Niobe, you I count divine, since you weep forever in your rocky tomb!
150
Chorus
Not to you alone of mortals, my daughter, has sorrow come,
though you face it with less restraint than those girls inside, Chrysothemis and Iphianassa, whose parents and blood you share. They still live, as he, too, lives, sorrowing in his secluded youth,
155
yet happy in that this famous realm of the Mycenaeans shall one day receive him as a noble lord, if with the blessing of Zeus’s escort he, Orestes, returns to this land.
160
Not to you alone of mortals, my daughter, has sorrow come,
though you face it with less restraint than those girls inside, Chrysothemis and Iphianassa, whose parents and blood you share. They still live, as he, too, lives, sorrowing in his secluded youth,
155
yet happy in that this famous realm of the Mycenaeans shall one day receive him as a noble lord, if with the blessing of Zeus’s escort he, Orestes, returns to this land.
160
Electra
Yes, I await him with unwearied longing,
as I walk my sad path from day to day childless and unwed, bathed in tears, bearing that endless doom of evils. But he forgets all that he has suffered and learned.
165
What message comes to me that is not proven false? He constantly desires to be with us, but though he desires it, he does not choose to appear.
170
Yes, I await him with unwearied longing,
as I walk my sad path from day to day childless and unwed, bathed in tears, bearing that endless doom of evils. But he forgets all that he has suffered and learned.
165
What message comes to me that is not proven false? He constantly desires to be with us, but though he desires it, he does not choose to appear.
170
Chorus
Courage, my daughter, courage; Zeus in the sky
is still mighty, and he sees and rules all. Leave your oversharp anger to him; be neither excessively hostile to those you hate, nor forgetful of them, since Time is a god who brings ease.
175
Courage, my daughter, courage; Zeus in the sky
is still mighty, and he sees and rules all. Leave your oversharp anger to him; be neither excessively hostile to those you hate, nor forgetful of them, since Time is a god who brings ease.
175
Electra
But the best part of life has passed away leaving me in hopelessness, and I have no strength left. I waste away without children and have no loving husband to champion me, but like some despised foreign slave,
185
I serve in the halls of my father, wrapped in shabby garments and standing to eat scanty meals.
190
But the best part of life has passed away leaving me in hopelessness, and I have no strength left. I waste away without children and have no loving husband to champion me, but like some despised foreign slave,
185
I serve in the halls of my father, wrapped in shabby garments and standing to eat scanty meals.
190
Chorus
Mournful was the voice heard at his return, and mournful the voice amidst your father’s reclining banquet
when the straight, swift blow of the bronze-jawed axe was sped against him. Deceit was the plotter, Lust the slayer, two dread parents of a dreadful
195
phantom, whether it was god or mortal that did this deed.
200
Mournful was the voice heard at his return, and mournful the voice amidst your father’s reclining banquet
when the straight, swift blow of the bronze-jawed axe was sped against him. Deceit was the plotter, Lust the slayer, two dread parents of a dreadful
195
phantom, whether it was god or mortal that did this deed.
200
Electra
O that hated day, hated beyond all that have come to me; O that night, the terrible grief of that unutterable feast, the shameless death-strokes
my father saw from their twin hands, hands which took my life captive by treachery, which cast me to ruin! May the great god of
Olympus
205
create for them sufferings in penalty, and may they never have enjoyment of their splendor since they have committed such crimes!
210
O that hated day, hated beyond all that have come to me; O that night, the terrible grief of that unutterable feast, the shameless death-strokes
my father saw from their twin hands, hands which took my life captive by treachery, which cast me to ruin! May the great god of
Olympus
205
create for them sufferings in penalty, and may they never have enjoyment of their splendor since they have committed such crimes!
210
Chorus
Be advised to say no more; do you not see by what actions
under the present circumstances you plunge so shamefully into self-made miseries? You have far excelled in achieving misfortune, ever breeding wars in your hardhearted soul. But such strife
215
should not be pushed into a conflict with the powerful.
220
Be advised to say no more; do you not see by what actions
under the present circumstances you plunge so shamefully into self-made miseries? You have far excelled in achieving misfortune, ever breeding wars in your hardhearted soul. But such strife
215
should not be pushed into a conflict with the powerful.
220
Electra
I have been forced to it, forced by a terrible compulsion. I know my own passion; it does not escape me; but, under such terrible compulsion, I will not restrain these disastrous cries of frenzy,
so long as life is in me. Who indeed, my noble friends, who that keeps what is appropriate in mind, would think any word of comfort right for my ears? Let me be, let me be, my comforters!
225
For these ills will be reckoned with those which have no cure; I will never know a respite from my pains, or the sum of this wailing.
230
I have been forced to it, forced by a terrible compulsion. I know my own passion; it does not escape me; but, under such terrible compulsion, I will not restrain these disastrous cries of frenzy,
so long as life is in me. Who indeed, my noble friends, who that keeps what is appropriate in mind, would think any word of comfort right for my ears? Let me be, let me be, my comforters!
225
For these ills will be reckoned with those which have no cure; I will never know a respite from my pains, or the sum of this wailing.
230
Chorus
It is nevertheless with goodwill, like a true-hearted mother,
that I dissuade you from begetting misery upon miseries.
235
It is nevertheless with goodwill, like a true-hearted mother,
that I dissuade you from begetting misery upon miseries.
235
Electra
But what limit has nature begot for my affliction? Tell me, how can it be right to neglect the dead? Has such a seed been sown in any mortal? May I never have such men’s esteem;
never, when I am close to prosperity, may I dwell in ease, hindering the wings of shrill lamentation so as to deprive my begetter of his honors!
For if the dead is to lie a wretch, merely dust and nothingness,
240
while his slayers do not pay back to him blood for blood in penalty,
245
then shame and reverence will vanish from all humanity.
250
But what limit has nature begot for my affliction? Tell me, how can it be right to neglect the dead? Has such a seed been sown in any mortal? May I never have such men’s esteem;
never, when I am close to prosperity, may I dwell in ease, hindering the wings of shrill lamentation so as to deprive my begetter of his honors!
For if the dead is to lie a wretch, merely dust and nothingness,
240
For if the dead is to lie a wretch, merely dust and nothingness,
while his slayers do not pay back to him blood for blood in penalty,
245
then shame and reverence will vanish from all humanity.
250
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
68. mvp-comment-46-1 Receive me and let me prosper in this my coming. The participle is proleptic. For ταῖσδε ταῖς ὁδοῖς, cp. Ὁ. C. 553, τανῦν θ᾽ ὁδοῖς | ἐν ταῖσδ᾽ ἀκούων μᾶλλον ἐξεπίσταμαι.